Clinical Governance – Pursuing Quality, Safety and Excellence ISBAR In Our Communication Introduction Who, what and where you are and why are you calling also is this a good time to talk? Situation What is happening now. “The situation is….” Background What led to the situation. “By way of background…” Assessment What you consider the problem is. “My assessment is” or “I assess….” Recommendation What should we do to correct the problem. “I recommend…..”

Clinical Governance – Pursuing Quality, Safety and Excellence ISBAR In Our Communication Introduction Who, what and where you are and why are you calling Establish you are talking to the right person and that it is convenient to have the conversation at that time (or, where necessary, that the conversation must take place now for a pressing reason) “Hello Helen, I am Brittany, the Social Worker on Ward 4 from St Elsewhere Hospital, do you have a moment to talk about Mrs X?”

Clinical Governance – Pursuing Quality, Safety and Excellence ISBAR In Our Communication Situation Give the situation as of now, including key information such as patient’s age and gender, and current status “Mrs X is being transferred to your hospital for an operation following a car accident. Mrs X has two young sons who are in the care of Department of Community Services (DoCS) as there has been no-one to care for them since her accident”

Clinical Governance – Pursuing Quality, Safety and Excellence ISBAR In Our Communication Background Give the relevant background details such as presenting factors and complications “By way of background, Mrs X recently lost her husband to illness. She lives with her sons on a remote property at Hollow Flat. Since the accident her sons have been in care until her sister arrives from New Zealand on Friday”

Clinical Governance – Pursuing Quality, Safety and Excellence ISBAR In Our Communication Assessment What do you consider is going on “Mrs X’s sister will take the children back to their home and care for them and Mrs X until she is well”

Clinical Governance – Pursuing Quality, Safety and Excellence ISBAR In Our Communication Recommendation Be clear about your recommendation “I need you to liaise with DoCS to keep them informed of Mrs X’s prognosis and arrange for the children to visit their mother until their aunt arrives”